3 Yohana 1
1 Mzee, kwa Gayo mpenzi, ninayempenda katika kweli.
The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I sincerely love in truth:
2 Mpendwa, nakuombea ufanikiwe katika mambo yote na kuwa na afya njema, kama vile roho yako inavyofanikiwa.
Beloved, I pray that in all ways you may prosper and be in good health, just as I know that your soul prospers.
3 Maana nilifurahi sana wakati nilipoambiwa na ndugu waliokuja na kutoa ushuhuda juu ya kweli yako, kama vile unavyoenenda katika kweli.
For I rejoiced greatly when some brothers came and testified about the truth that is in you, as indeed you do walk in the truth.
4 Sina furaha kubwa zaidi ya hii, kusikia kwamba watoto wangu wanatembea katika kweli.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Mpendwa, unaenenda kwa uaminifu unapowahudumia ndugu na wageni,
Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brothers and sisters, and especially when they are strangers.
6 ambao wametoa ushuhuda wa upendo wako mbele ya kanisa. Unafanya vizuri kuwasafirisha katika safari zao kwa namna ambayo inampendeza Mungu.
They have testified to your sincere love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God,
7 Kwa sababu kwa ajili ya Jina, walienda bila kuchukua kitu chochote kutoka kwa watu wa Mataifa.
for they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the heathen.
8 Hivyo, tunatakiwa kuwakaribisha watu kama hawa, ili tuwe watenda kazi wenza kwa ajili ya kweli.
Therefore we ought to support such people, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
9 Nililiandikia kusanyiko jambo fulani, lakini Diotrofe, anayependa kuwa wa kwanza miongoni mwao, hakubaliani na sisi.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
10 Hivyo, kama nikija nitayakumbuka matendo yake anayoyafanya, jinsi anavyosema maneno mabaya kinyume nasi. Hajaridhika na matendo haya, yeye mwenyewe hawapokei ndugu. Hata huwakataza wengine ambao wanatamani kuwakaribisha hao ndugu na kuwafukuza watoke kwenye kusanyiko.
For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not satisfied with this, he himself doesn’t receive the brothers and sisters, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Mpenzi, usiige kilicho kibaya, bali iga kilicho chema. Yeye atendaye mema ni wa Mungu; na yeye atendaye mabaya hajamwona Mungu.
Beloved, don’t imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good belongs to God; the one who does evil hasn’t seen God.
12 Demetrio ameshuhudiwa na wote na kweli yenyewe. sisi pia ni mashahidi, na unajua kuwa ushahuhuda wetu ni wa kweli.
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 Ninayo mambo mengi ya kukuandikia, lakini sipendi kukuandikia kwa kalamu na wino.
I had many things to write to you, but I would rather not write them to you with pen and ink;
14 Bali ninatarajia kukuona hivi karibuni, na tutaongea nawe ana kwa ana. Amani iwe pamoja nawe. Marafiki wanakusalimu. Wasalimu marafiki kila mmoja kwa jina lake.
but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
